DK’s Daily Shot of Pirates: Paul Skenes … wow 

Loving your coverage on the Pirates this spring, DK. I’m usually so pessimistic about the Buccos (for good reason) but the young guys are giving me reason to be optimistic. This is the most fired up I’ve been about the future of the Pirates in a long time. Let’s go!!

As an orioles fan I was looking forward to the Jackson Holliday matchup and wow Paul skenes is nasty. I’m looking forward to their next matchup I think march 17th

Don't play contract games with Skenes, let him start the season in MLB, not in the minors!

Honestly unless he blows up a couple of times in future spring training appearances I think they gotta start Skenes in the majors. Unless they wait until near the end of the year he's likely going to finish in top 2 roy and be awarded a year of service time anyway, making the waiting until super 2 thing pointless. If they start the year with him on the roster and then he wins ROY the Pirates will be awarded an extra draft pick. To me it seems like they have a lot to gain from him being on the roster opening day and fairly little to lose, cuz development wise he seems more than ready

With respect to Mitch Keller, Paul Skenes should be our Opening Day starter

The new 6 man rotation, keller , skenes, jones, Ortiz, Contreras, Perez or Gonzalez pending if Perez pitches and if Gonzalez gets better.

I would've picked Wyatt Langford and not Skenes. This was 10 pitches, we heard this same stiff about Kris Benson and a few others. How many of these flame throwers have to have TJ surgery before they ever get to the majors?

We've seen it all before. Tommy John by September next year lost comes back about 75% of what he once was then traded before he goes FA. Even if he turns out to be the next great Pirates pitcher Nutting simply won't pay the $1 million bucks a start that Cole's getting which is what a full potential realized Skenes would get in FA.

How does he compare to Gerrit Cole at same time?

Oh,cmon.ah yeah.He has a way to go.Velocity just means fly balls go farther.That KC right fielder could have let that fall for probable triple and then from the stretch what?

He'll start in AAA. A: He will need stretched out B: The Pirates, for some reason, think April and May don't count.

Only two seasons left before the Pirates have Paul throwing an 89mph fastball.

Your observations of Skenes reminded me of the time I saw Jim Kelly in High School. I was between 5-8 I don’t recall the exact year. I vividly remember wondering why that one kid was so much bigger and better than anyone else on the field. Awestruck is the best way I can describe it. Now I’m disappointed for skipping Paul’s debut up here in Erie

We are perennial - Pirates are two years away from being one year away

Also if some guys don't work out, fill ins priester, solomento, chandler , burrows, Brubaker and Ashcraft in no particular order. So if they choose, they can compete in 2024 they have the pitching if they have the balls to use it.

Let the last few examples of Colin Selby prove why he needs to be in the minor leagues and nowhere near the Pirates' MLB roster in 2024. A 9.00 era last year, 3 runs yesterday in one inning, the prior outing he loaded the bases, and luckily escaped (big problem is they refuse to take him out and rely on some computer model for decisions). The issue is Derek Shelton loves him and these algo driven game simulators. Shelton is a big problem for the Pirates ongoing. He literally does the opposite of what makes sense. He can't manage. I pray he can prove me wrong this year. I haven't seen any evidence of it so far. Skenes is a no brainer, let the guy pitch. They let these other turds pitch, why not someone with this potential? One inning? Henry Davis needs to be catcher #2 this year. They either drafted him to catch or they didn't. He has Grandal for a mentor now too. He's making a huge effort, even made his home in Brandenton, and done a lot of extra work to get better. I haven't seen the big concerns they talked about with his catching, he has been pretty good actually. What I have seen is a lot of garbage pitchers throwing legit wild pitches when he's in there. Michael McHenry even commented on it in the one game that no catcher would have a chance at those. He looks really good so far hitting as well, I see growth.

Yes DK. A creative pitcher, Paul Skenes and the Splinker. I hope it's a real stinker! If it don't work he will create another one. I see a man that loves what he is doing, with a passion. I hope it is contagious. Really good one DK, Great show

I miss the Steelers DK.